Trailer construction

ABSTRACT

A trailer construction including three wheel assemblies each comprising two independent sets of wheels. Each independent set of wheels is pivotally connected to the trailer bed and the two independent sets of wheels in each wheel assembly are connected together by links so as to operate in unison. Lock means is provided for optionally locking the individual sets of wheels of the central wheel assembly only, in a straight path, while the trailer is moving forward. Floating wheels are provided at the pivot points of the sets of wheels and lock means is provided for optionally locking certain of said floating wheels to the auxiliary frames of the corresponding wheel sets. Said certain floating wheels are connected together to rotate in unison. Air cylinders are controlled by the tractor operator for simultaneously moving all three wheel assemblies in the same direction for steering the trailer when it is moved in reverse.

United Patent 11 1 v.

Mauck 1 i [s4 TRAILER CONSTRUCTION [76] Inventor: Robert J. MaI'Ick,2252 Pinconning v Road, Pinconning, Mich. 48650 22 Filedz Dec.9,1971 211Appl;No.:206 ,2 54

[52 U.S. Cl ..280/81.5, 280/DIG. 9, 280/445 1,013,587 4/1952 France..280/81 A May 15, 1973 Primary ExaminerLeo Friaglia Attorney-John H.Bishop et a].

[57] ABSTRACT A trailer construction including three wheel assemblieseach comprising two independent sets of wheels. Each independent set ofwheels is pivotally connected to the trailer bed and the two independentsets of wheels in each wheel assembly are connected together by links soas to operate in unison. Lock means is provided for optionally lockingthe individual sets of wheels of the central wheel assembly only, in astraight path, while the trailer is moving forward. Floating wheels areprovided at the pivot points of the sets of wheels and lock means isprovided for optionally locking certain of said floating wheels to theauxiliary frames of the corresponding wheel sets. Said certain floatingwheels are connected together to rotate in unison. Air cylinders arecontrolled by the tractor operator for simultaneously moving all threewheel assemblies in the same direction for steering the trailer when itis movedin reverse.

9 Claims, 16 Drawing Figures FIGJ PATENTED 1 SW5 3.. 7'33 .084

sum 1 OF 4 FIG. 2

INVEN TOR. ROBERT J. MAUCK ATTORNEY PATENIEU mm 1 51913 SHEET 3 OF 4ROBERT J. MAUCK E MY TRAILER CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONField of the Invention The invention relates to improvements in trailerconstruction having a plurality of three wheel assemblies with means foroperating the same in one manner when the trailer is moving forward andin another manner when the trailer is moving in reverse.

Description of the Prior Art This invention is an improvement upon theconstruction disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,334,912 issued Aug. 8, 1967.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION In general terms, the trailer constructioncomprising the present invention may be briefly described as including amain frame comprising a central longitudinally disposed main beamdepending from the trailer bed with a plurality of laterally disposedcross beams located through the upper portion of the web thereof.

Longitudinally spaced front, intermediate and rear wheel assemblies areprovided for supporting the trailer. Each of these wheel assemblies isformed by generally axially aligned, laterally spaced sets of gener allyaxially aligned, laterally spaced wheels, with axle means extendinglaterally between the wheels of each set for rotatably supporting thewheels.

A floating wheel is provided for each independent set of wheels in eachwheel assembly. Each set of wheels is mounted pivotal around a generallyperpendicular axis relative to the trailer bed.

The two independent sets of wheels in each wheel assembly are connectedtogether as by links so as to operate in unison. The intermediate wheelassembly is adapted to be locked with the wheels in a straight path bymeans of a spring tension lock which may be released by air. Thisintermediate wheel assembly is held in this locked position while thetrailer is moving forward.

The floating wheel of one independent set of the intermediate wheelassembly is connected by links or the like to the corresponding floatingwheel of the front wheel assembly, and in like manner the floating wheelof the other independent wheel set of the intermediate wheel assembly isconnected as by links to the corresponding floating wheel of the rearwheel assembly.

Air cylinders are provided for simultaneously moving all three wheelassemblies in the same direction when the trailer is moved in reverse.These air cylinders may be pivotally connected at opposite ends to themain beam and to the housings of both independent sets of wheels in theintermediate wheel assembly or, altematively, the cylinders may bepivotally connected at opposite ends to one of the links connecting thefloating wheels to one of the cross beams.

A spring lock, releasable by air, is provided for optionally locking orunlocking one floating wheel of each wheel assembly.

The object of the invention is to provide an improved vehicle wheelsupport for trailers which may be easily and readily operated for movinga trailer forward either in a straight path or around curves and formoving the trailer in reverse controlled by the tractor operator tosteer the trailer for easy parking and around curves.

Another object of the invention is to provide a trailer construction inwhich the axles are positioned back of the turning center of each set ofwheels for self-steering action when moving forward.

A further object of the invention is to provide a floating wheel foreach independent set of wheels, means for locking certain of thefloating wheels to the corresponding sets of wheels, links connectingthe wheels of each set, and links connecting the floating wheels of theseveral wheel assemblies.

It is also an object of the invention to provide an improved trailerconstruction which satisfies the above objects in a relatively simpleand efficient manner and may be provided at a minimum cost.

The above objects together with others which will be apparent from thedrawings and following description, or which may be later referred to,may be attained by constructing the improved trailer construction, inthe manner hereinafter described in detail and illustrated in theaccompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS By way of example, an embodiment ofthe invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings forming a parthereof, wherein similar numerals indicate similar parts throughout theseveral views.

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a trailer embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged transverse sectional view on the line 2-2, FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a bottom plan view of the trailer;

FIG. 4 is an enlarged fragmentary bottom plan view of a portion of thetrailer showing one of the sets of wheels of the intermediate wheelassembly, with parts broken away;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section on the line 55, FIG.

FIG. 6 is a transverse section on the line 66, FIG.

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary top plan view of one of the sets of wheels ofthe front wheel assembly connected by links or rods to the correspondingset of wheels of the intermediate wheel assembly;

FIG. 8 is a top plan sectional view of the three wheel assembliesshowing the connecting linkage;

FIG. 9 is a small scale diagrammatic view showing the position of thewheels when backing the trailer around a curve;

FIG. 10 is a similar view showing the position of the wheels when movingthe trailer forward around a curve;

FIG. 11 is a fragmentary section on the line 1111, FIG. 5, showing thefloating wheel locked;

FIG. 12 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view showing the floatingwheel unlocked;

FIG. 13 is a fragmentary section on the line 13 13, FIG. 5;

FIG. 14 is a fragmentary plan view showing a modifled form of sprocketand chain for connecting the floating wheels of the intermediate andfront wheels or intermediate and rear wheels;

FIG. 15 is a fragmentary plan view showing a modified arrangement of aircylinders; and

FIG. 16 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view on the line 16-16,FIG. 13.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT The illustrated embodiment ofthe improved trailer construction includes a usual trailer bed 1supported upon a main frame comprising the central longitudinal mainbeam 2 and the cross beams 3 located through the upper portion of themain beam. Upon this trailer bed may be provided any conventional formof trailer construction.

Struts 4 are downwardly and inwardly inclined from the ends of the crossbeams 3 to the lower portion of the main beam 2.

The trailer main frame and bed are supported by three similar wheelassemblies 5. The three wheel assemblies comprise the front assembly A,the intermediate assembly B, and the rear assembly C. Each of thesefront, intermediate and rear wheel assemblies is formed by axiallyaligned and laterally spaced sets 6 of axially aligned and laterallyspaced wheels 7.

Each set 6 of wheels is mounted pivotal in a generally vertical planeabout a generally longitudinal pivot axis relative to the main frame.

Also, each set 6 of wheels in each of said wheel assemblies isoperatively connected to the main frame for pivotal movement of eachindividual set 6 in a generally horizontal plane about a generallyvertical axis.

Referring particularly to FIGS. 1, 3to 7, and 11 to 13, each set ofwheels of each of the wheel assemblies is formed by the axially alignedand laterally spaced wheels 7 mounted on the laterally extending axle 8,which is, in turn, secured to a longitudinal central portion of thelongitudinally extending support shaft 9.

The forward end of the support shaft 9 is rotatably mounted in theforward support sleeve 10 and secured therein by the stop flange 11 andnut 12. The rear end of the support shaft 9 is slidably and rotatablyreceived in the rear support sleeve 13, and a nut 14 with stop flange 15thereon is threaded upon the rear end of the support shaft 9.

The support shaft 9 and the forward and rear support sleeves l0 and 13,respectively, are positioned generally laterally between the verticallyand longitudinally extending auxiliary frame plates 16, which areconnected to the longitudinal auxiliary frame member 17.

The forward support sleeve 10 is pivotally secured, at a point spacedforwardly of the wheel axle 8, to the auxiliary frame plates 16 by meansof a lower projection receiving the pivot bolt 18 pivotally andlaterally therethrough.

The pivot bolt 18 is mounted laterally through a lower portion of theforward auxiliary frame plates 16, and nuts 18' are mounted upon theends thereof. The rear support sleeve 13 is pivotally secured about agenerally lateral axis to the lower cap 19 through an up- Wardprojection which receives the laterally extending pivot bolt 20.

The outer ends of the pivot bolt 20 are received laterally through therear auxiliary frame plates 16 and secured by the nuts 20', with thepivot bolt 20 being generally vertically movable relative to theauxiliary frame plates 16 in the generally vertically extending slots 21formed in the rear auxiliary frame plates 16.

The lower end of an air bag 22, in lieu of the conventional coil spring,is received downwardly within the lower cap 19, with the air bag 22extending generally vertically upwardly, laterally between the rearauxiliary frame plates 16 and having its upper end received within theupper cap 23 located at the upper ends of the rear auxiliary frameplates 16.

Thus, the pivotal movement of the forward support sleeve 10, and therebythe wheels 7, axle 8, and support shaft 9, in a generally vertical planeabout the generally lateral axis formed through the pivot bolt 18, isresiliently resisted by the air bag 22 between the rearward supportsleeve 13 and the upper cap 23 at the upper portion of the rearauxiliary frame plates 16, in the same manner as the intennediate andrear wheel assemblies in said US. Pat. No. 3,334,912.

At properly spaced points in the main frame, longitudinally disposedbeams 24 are located between two adjacent cross beams 3 and securedthereto in any suitable manner. A disc plate 25 is rigidly attached tothe lower flanges of the beams 24 and has centrally located therethrougha pivot pin 26 which may be tubular as shown in FIGS. 11 and 12.

A plurality of radial flanges 27 upon the upper end of the pivot pin 26are welded or otherwise attached to the stationary disc plate 25. Thelower portion of the pivot pin 26 extends down through the centralopening 28 in the stationary disc 25, through a central opening 29 inthe floating wheel 30, and through a central opening 31 in the disc 32,which is welded or otherwise suitably attached to the longitudinalauxiliary frame member 17, and the upper ends of the auxiliary frameplates 16.

Each independent set 6 of wheels may thus be pivotally connected to themain frame of the trailer bed at its forward end. The sets 6 of wheelsforming each wheel assembly 5 are connected together so as to be movedupon their pivots in unison.

For this purpose, links 33 are provided for connecting the rear endportions of the sets 6 of wheels forming each wheel assembly 5. Oppositeends of each link 33 are pivotally connected, by pivot bolts 34, to lugs35 fixed to opposed faces of the rear auxiliary frame plates 16 of thetwo wheel sets 6 forming each wheel assembly 5.

Lock means is provided for optionally locking one set 6 of wheels ofeach wheel assembly 5 to the corresponding floating wheel 30. For thispurpose, a plunger or locking bolt 36 is adapted to be inserted throughthe aperture 37 of the disc 32 into the aperture 38 of the correspondingfloating wheel 30.

The plunger 36 may be the piston rod of a cylinder 39 mounted on theadjacent auxiliary frame plate 16. A compression spring 40 in thecylinder 39 may normally hold the plunger 36 in extended or lockedposition as shown in FIG. 11. The plunger may be retracted to unlockedposition, as shown in FIG. 12, by fluid pressure admitted through hose41.

The floating wheel 30 of one set 6 of wheels of the intermediate wheelassembly B- is connected to the floating wheel of the corresponding setof wheels in the front wheel assembly A and in like manner the floatingwheel of the other set of wheels in the intermediate wheel assembly B isconnected to the floating wheel of the corresponding set of wheels inthe rear wheel assembly C.

As best shown in FIGS. 7 to 10 inclusive, this may be accomplished byproviding diametrically opposite ears 42 upon these floating wheels 30and pivotally connecting links in the form of rods 43 to said ears. Abifurcated member 44 is threaded upon each end of each rod 43 andpivotally connected to the corresponding ear 42 by a pin 45. Since thebifurcated members 44 are threaded upon the ends of the rods 43 thisprovides for quick and easy adjustment of the length of the rods toaccommodate the spacing between the floating wheels so connected.

In order to provide means whereby the operator may control the steeringof the trailer, particularly in reverse, fluid operated cylinders 46 areprovided and adapted to be controlled by the operator. Each of thesecylinders is pivotally connected at one end, as indicated at 47, to alug 48 attached to or formed upon the main beam 2, the piston rod 49thereof being connected to one of the sets 6 of wheels in theintermediate wheel assembly B, as by the pivot pin 34.

Means is provided for optionally locking the wheels of the intermediatewheel assembly B in a straight path. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 16, thismay be a locking assembly such as shown at 102 in'FIGS. l0 and of US.Pat. No. 3,334,912, above referred to. Such a locking assembly isindicated generally at 50 in FIGS. 4 and 16 and comprises cylinder 51mounted at the rear end of the auxiliary frame of one set 6 of wheels ofthe intermediate wheel assembly B.

Since both sets of wheels in the assembly are connected by a link 33,both sets of wheels in the intermediate wheel assembly B may be lockedby this locking assembly. The lock bolt 52, which is selectivelyextendable from the cylinder, is engageable through a suitable openingin the arcuate beam 53. This lock bolt may be normally extended byspring means in the manner of the lock bolt 36 in the cylinder 39 andretracted by fluid pressure through a hose 54.

When the trailer is moving forward the intermediate wheel assembly B maybe locked by the locking assembly 50 with the wheels 7 thereof in astraight path, as indicated in FIG. 10. The piston rods or lock bolts 36of the cylinders 39 may be retracted so that the front wheel assembly Aand rear wheel assembly C are free to pivot upon their pivot pins 26 sothat their wheels may follow the path of the tractor in passing aroundcurves and the like, as indicated in FIG. 10.

When it is desired to move the trailer in reverse, the locking bolt 52is retracted and the locking bolts or piston rods 36 of the cylinders 39are extended into the apertures 38 of certain of the floating wheels 30,connecting the individual wheel sets 6 to their respective floatingwheels 30.

The operator then operates the cylinder 46 to move the wheels of theintermediate wheel assembly B to the desired position. Through the rods43 and links 33 the wheels 7 of the front wheel assembly A and rearassembly C will be moved to the same positions so that the operator maycontrol the steering of the tractor in reverse, as shown in FIG. 9.

In FIG. 14 is shown a modification in which certain of the floatingwheels 30 instead of being provided with ears for pivotal connection ofrods 43, are in the form of sprocket wheels with sprocket teeth 55around their peripheries. The rods-43' are connected together in pairsat opposite ends by sprocket chains 56 which engage the sprocket teeth55.

In FIG. 15 is shown a modification of the cylinder 46. Instead ofconnecting these cylinders and their piston rods to the auxiliary frameplates 16 and the main beam 2, respectively, the cylinders are pivotallyconnected to cars 57 on cross beams 3, and the piston rods 49 areconnected to cars 58 upon the rods 43. This will enable a choice ofeither location to the user.

In the foregoing description certain terms have been usedfor.gravity,--cleamess and understanding, but no unnecessary limitationsare to be implied therefrom beyond the requirements of the prior art,because such words are used for descriptive purposes herein and areintended to be broadly construed.

Moreover, the embodiments of the improved construction illustrated anddescribed herein are by way of example, and the scope of the presentinvention is not limited to the exact details of construction.

Having now described the invention or discovery, the construction, theoperation, and use of the preferred embodiments thereof, and theadvantageous, new and useful results obtained thereby; the new anduseful construction, and reasonable mechanical equivalents thereofobvious to those skilled in the art, are set forth in the disclosure.

I claim:

1. Trailer construction including a main frame, longitudinally spacedsupporting front, intermediate and rear wheel assemblies, each wheelassembly having generally axially aligned laterally spaced sets ofgenerally axially aligned laterally spaced wheels, an auxiliary framefor each of said sets of wheels, vertical pivot means for pivotallymounting the front end portion of each auxiliary frame to the mainframe, means connecting the rear end portions of the auxiliary frames ofeach wheel assembly together, means for locking the sets of wheels ofthe intermediate wheel assembly with the wheels in a straight path forforward movement of the trailer, and means controlled by the operatorfor controlling the pivotal movement of all of the sets of wheels forsteering the trailer when moving in reverse.

2. Trailer construction as defined in claim 1 in which the meansconnecting the rear end portion of the auxiliary frames of each wheelassembly comprises a tie rod pivotally connected at opposite ends tosaid auxiliary frames. 7

3. Trailer construction as defined in claim 1 in which a floating wheelis pivotally mounted upon the vertical pivot means of certain auxiliaryframes, means is provided for locking one floating wheel in each wheelassembly to the corresponding auxiliary frame, and means is provided forconnecting one floating wheel of the intermediate wheel assembly to thecorresponding floating wheel of the front Wheel assembly and forconnecting the other floating wheel of the intermediate wheel assemblywith the corresponding floating wheel of the rear wheel assembly.

4. Trailer construction as defined in claim 1 in which the means forlocking the sets of wheels of the intermediate wheel assembly with thewheels in a straight path comprises a cylinder operated lock bolt on oneof said sets of wheels for engagement in an aperture in an arcuate beamon said main frame.

5. Trailer construction as defined in claim 1 in which the meanscontrolled by the operator for controlling the pivotal movement of allof the sets of wheels for steering the trailer when moving in reverseincludes manually controlled fluid cylinder means interposed between themain frame and the sets of wheels of the intermediate wheel assembly.

6. Trailer construction as defined in claim 1 in which the main framecomprises a central longitudinally disposed main beam and a plurality oftransversely disposed cross beams located through the upper portion ofthe main beam.

same and means connects the ends of each sprocket chain to the ends ofthe corresponding sprocket chains.

9. Trailer construction as defined in claim 3 in which manuallycontrolled fluid cylinder means is interposed between the main frame andthe sets of wheels of the intermediate wheel assembly.

1. Trailer construction including a main frame, longitudinally spacedsupporting front, intermediate and rear wheel assemblies, each wheelassembly having generally axially aligned laterally spaced sets ofgenerally axially aligned laterally spaced wheels, an auxiliary framefor each of said sets of wheels, vertical pivot means for pivotallymounting the front end portion of each auxiliary frame to the mainframe, means connecting the rear end portions of the auxiliary frames ofeach wheel assembly together, means for locking the sets of wheels ofthe intermediate wheel assembly with the wheels in a straight path forforward movement of the trailer, and means controlled by the operatorfor controlling the pivotal movement of all of the sets of wheels forsteering the trailer when moving in reverse.
 2. Trailer construction asdefined in claim 1 in which the means connecting the rear end portion ofthe auxiliary frames of each wheel assembly comprises a tie rodpivotally connected at opposite ends to said auxiliary frames. 3.Trailer construction as defined in claim 1 in which a floating wheel ispivotally mounted upon the vertical pivot means of certain auxiliaryframes, means is provided for locking one floating wheel in each wheelassembly to the corresponding auxiliary frame, and means is provided forconnecting one floating wheel of the intermediate wheel assembly to thecorresponding floating wheel of the front wheel assembly and forconnecting the other floating wheel of the intermediate wheel assemblywith the corresponding floating wheel of the rear wheel assembly. 4.Trailer construction as defined in claim 1 in which the means forlocking the sets of wheels of the intermediate wheel assembly with thewheels in a straight path comprises a cylinder operated lock bolt on oneof said sets of wheels for engagement in an aperture in an arcuate beamon said main frame.
 5. Trailer construction as defined in claim 1 inwhich the means controlled by the operator for controlling the pivotalmovement of all of the sets of wheels for steering the trailer whenmoving in reverse includes manually controlled fluid cylinder meansinterposed between the main frame and the sets of wheels of theintermediate wheel assembly.
 6. Trailer construction as defined in claim1 in which the main frame comprises a central longitudinally disposedmain beam and a plurality of transversely disposed cross beams locatedthrough the upper portion of the main beam.
 7. Trailer construction asdefined in claim 3 in which the means for connecting the floating wheelsof the intermediate, front and rear wheel assemblies comprises rodspivotally connected at their ends to the peripheral portions of thefloating wheels.
 8. Trailer construction as defined in claim 3 in whichsaid floating wheels have sprocket teeth around their peripheries,sprocket chains are located around the same and means connects the endsof each sprocket chain to the ends of the corresponding sprocket chains.9. Trailer construction as defined in claim 3 in which manuallycontrolled fluid cylinder means is interposed between the main frame andthe sets of wheels of the intermediate wheel assembly.